JT Restaurant

It is a little known fact that The Heritage Club is open to the public. Granted, only club members are allowed to use its facilities like the tennis court and the swimming pool. However, guests are always welcomed to visit JT Restaurant Oriental & Western Cuisine at the west wing of the mansion.

First time visitors will be surprised to find the elegance of the restaurant's interior design. A marble-top drinks counter is flanked by ballroom-style dining tables and chairs. The indoor buffet counter is decorated with various ornaments to give a sense of grace and hospitality.

JT Restaurant serves Buffet Dinner on Saturdays and Sundays, between 6:30pm and 10:00pm. The buffet is priced at RM45.00. Upon special request, Buffet Dinner may also be available on other days, but outdoor stalls may not be available depending on the requester's budget and party size.

Starting with cooked dishes, Chicken Chop is coated with batter and grilled to golden brown. The flesh is quite succulent on its own, but the gravy enhances the flavor even further.

Grilled Salmon Fillet is served with salmon skin still intact. The moist cutlets are addictive within each bite. Dark sauce is provided, but I feel that it tends to overpower the true taste of fresh salmon.

As for Sautéed Potato, I like the fact that potato skin is kept intact as it provides better mouthfeel compared to peeled potatoes.

Generally, I find Spaghetti Aglio Olio to be oddly out-of-place in a buffet setting. Since it is prepared in a large batch and left to dry, the pasta does not have the appealing aroma of olive oil that distinctively defines this dish. On the plus side, the presence of mushrooms is certainly welcoming in any pasta dish.

Also included in the buffet spread is Risi E Bisi, an Italian rice dish which literally means "rice and peas". It looks and tastes nearly identical to Chinese-style fried rice. As far as I know, this Italian dish is customary served with a slightly soupy finish similar to risotto.

As for the salad section, the main attraction is smoked duck salad. The pleasant saltiness of smoked duck is gratifying indeed.

For a more modestly-flavored salad, mixed garden salad is also available. A mixture of fresh lettuce leaves, cherry tomatoes, julienned carrots and sliced cucumber are presented in a large bowl. Ranch and Thousand Island dressing are provided.

Incorporating some Japanese elements to the buffet line, a decked platter of sushi (寿司) is prepared.

Types of sushi available today are maki rolls (握り寿司), tamago nigiri (玉子握り), inari sushi (稲荷寿司) and California rolls (カリフォルニアロール).

Fresh loaf and minced tuna fish are presented alongside each other. I believe they are meant to be eaten as canapé.

Moving on to something on the sweeter side, children will be thrilled to find marshmallows of various colors and flavors.

A charcoal-heated grill is provided to toast the marshmallows. In my opinion, the best way to enjoy toasted marshmallows is by heating it through indirect fire, until a point where the outer surface becomes caramelized while the interior turns partially molten.

For desserts, jelly is provided on the plate or in individual glasses. Generally, I find the individual glasses of jelly to be more appealing to my taste buds.

Relive your childhood memories with some traffic cone jelly. This sweet treat is one of the few things that invokes nostalgic euphoria when stumbled upon.

The fruits platter consists of an assortment of various fruits including papaya, honey dew, green apples, watermelon and grapes.

Should customers prefer, the fruits cocktail is an excellent way to quench thirst.

Finally for beverage, coffee and tea are provided if you need to get your evening dosage of caffeine. For non-caffeinated drinks, fruit juice is also provided.

JT Restaurant's Buffet Dinner is regularly available on Saturdays and Sundays. If you prefer to avoid having heavy meals in the evening, try the Buffet Lunch (12:00pm-3:30pm, RM35.00) on Sunday noon.

Meanwhile, Semi Buffet Lunch (12:00pm-3:30pm, RM23.90) and Semi Buffet Dinner (6:30pm-10:00pm, RM38.90) are served on other days where the full buffet is not available. The semi buffet allows the diner to pick one main course from a list, and access to the buffet line for free flow of appetizers, soup and desserts. Finally, the à la carte menu is always available whenever the restaurant is open.

JT Restaurant is a halal-certified restaurant. Besides operating at The Heritage Club, the restaurant also provides catering service for corporate and family events. Customers can choose from a wide spectrum of dishes which include various Malay, Chinese, Indian, Western and Nyonya delicacies.

Name: JT Restaurant Oriental & Western Cuisine
Address: 2, Jalan Scotland, 10450 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Contact: 04-227-3373, 019-662-1673
Business hours: 12:00pm-10:30pm
Website: https://www.facebook.com/JTRestaurant
Coordinates: 5.41921 N, 100.30419 E
Directions: Driving along Scotland Road (Jalan Scotland) towards the Penang Botanic Gardens, follow the left curve to Jalan Utama. The Heritage Club is the building immediately on the left. JT Restaurant is located at the west wing of the building. There are no entry and parking fees for restaurant customers.